Rig Rundown: Earth, Wind & Fire's Verdine White

Between soundcheck and a meet-and-greet appearance, Verdine White took a minute to talk music, tone, gear, and philanthropy with Premier Guitar’s John Bohlinger when Earth, Wind & Fire played Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on their current world tour.

Throughout his influential career, Verdine White been courted by dozens of bass builder to play their gear. White began playing Sadowsky basses over a decade ago. Through this relationship he’s made some suggestions and tweaks that lead to the Sadowsky Verdine White Signature Bass.

Mr. White now tours with three of his sig basses, putting them through his aggressive, marathon set every night of the tour. He keeps the basses strung with DR Red Devil coated strings—.045, .065, .085, .105. All proceeds from the sales of his Sadowsky sig bass go to the Verdine White Performing Arts Center in L.A.

In the studio, Verdine White uses his tried and true an Ampeg B15. Live he goes with a SWR Marcus Miller Preamp. The only other ingredient in his signal chain is his Shure UR4D wireless. As for effects, none are needed because the various tones he needs reside in his talented hands.

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John Bohlinger is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist best known for leading the band on NBC's Nashville Star, serving as music director for the CMT Awards and specials on PBS and GAC, and of course for his appearances in PG Rig Rundown, Review Demo, Axes & Artifacts, and What Bohlinger Plays videos.

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